Warren PAL coach charged with child pornography

A Warren man who coached football for 10- to 12-year-old boys and girls in the city’s Police Athletic League has been charged by the FBI with possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography.

Mark Mitchell had at least 200 child pornographic videos on his computer consistent with child pornography, according to the FBI. At least eight pornographic files were uncovered on Jan. 29 by Special Agent Justin D. Givhan working undercover.

The videos involved an adult male and 8-year-old girl engaged in several sex acts.

Mitchell allegedly told Givhan, a PAL football coach, he downloaded the videos while doing research, an affidavit filed with federal court shows. Mitchell allegedly told authorities he wanted to see if he could identify any of the children involved in the football program. He told authorities if he was able to identify a child in the porno videos he was going to report it to police.

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Mitchell coached youngsters in PAL for the past six years.

In the affidavit filed with U.S. District Court in Detroit for the Eastern District Givhan said he located a computer in Mitchell’s basement using IP addresses. Givhan charges that he viewed the files which displayed several file names consistent with child pornography.

The FBI obtained a search warrant on April 4 and examined Mitchell’s computer. Givhan said Mitchell admitted downloading the child pornography as part of his research.

Mitchell’s computer was taken from the house by the FBI and is awaiting forensic review.